Hermetic tube closure



June 3, 1930. R. sATo 1,761,236

HERMETIC TUBE CLOSURE Filed June 24, 1929 amnion wifwZ Patented June 3,1930 UNITED STATES BYUJ' I SATO, 01' NEW YORK, N. Y.

HERMETIO TUBE CLOSURE Application filed June 24,

This invention relates to closures for collapsible tubes and the likeand has special reference to a closure so arran ed that when the tube isclosed it is airtig t, the device '8 being preferably termed, on thisaccount, a

hermetic tube closure.

One important object of the invention is to provide a simple andefficient device having Improved means for closing the delivery end of acollapsible tube and the like in such manner that when closed the tubewill be airtight.

A second important object of the invention is to provide an improvedclosure of this class wherein a cap is used which carries a collapsiblewasher so ar anged that when the cap is moved to closed position thewasher is IEpompressed against the opening into the to e.

A third important object of the invention is to provide an improvedclosure of this description wherein the collapsible washer is maintainedin proper position in a simple and efiicient manner. With the above andother objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the inventionconsists in general of certain novel details of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and specifically claimed. 7

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indlcate likeparts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the neck or delivery end of acollapsible tube showing the improved closure thereon.

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail transverse section on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged bottom or inside view of the cap.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated there is shown acollapsible tube 10 having the usual frusto-conical end 11 and centrallyof this end extends a tubular neck 12 provided with external screwthreads 13. Across the mouth end of the neck 12 extends a fixedpartition 14 so arranged that an opening 15 is left at one side betweenthe wall 1929. Serial No. 873,110.

of the neck and an edge portion of this partition.

To cover and close the opening 15 there is provided a cap having a body16 and fromthis body extends a flange 17 of annular'form and threadedinternally to engage the threads 13, the flange being cut away as at 18to form a notch, the ends of which are selectively engageable witha pin19 projecting from the neck 12 so that rotation of the cap is limited inaccordance with the length of the notch 18. By reason of the provisionof the flange 17 the cap is thus formed with a recess in its undersideand an openin 20 extends from the top face of this cap ad acent one edgeand opens into the recess in the lower side of the cap. This opening isso arranged that it is of segmento-circular cross-section and may berotated into and out of registry with the opening 15, right handedrotation moving it out of registry and left handed rotation moving itinto registry. Across the recess in the cap at the edge of the opening20 extends a rib 21 which thus divides the recess into two parts, theopening 20 communicating with one part and the other part of the recessbeing filled with a washer 22 of cork, rubber, or other likecompressible material which extends slightly below the lower edge of therib 21 so that as the cap is rotated in a right handed direction to movethe opening 20 out of registry with the opening 15 the washer 22 ismoved to cover the opening 15 and, by reason of the screw threads, iscompressed against this opening so as to close it hermetically and thusrender it airtight. It will be observed that by the provision of the rib21 the washer 22 cannot slip around out of place but is always in properposition inside of the cap. In operation, of course, when it is desiredto permit the contents of the tube to flow out the cap is moved to bringthe openings 15 and 20 into registry While at other times the Washer isscrewed down on the opening 15.

There has thus been provided a simple and efiicient device of the kinddescribed and for the purpose specified.

' It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. It, is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to theexact formherein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

Havm thus described the invention, what is claime as new, is:

In a collapsible tube, a neck having a screw threaded exterior, apartition extendin across the neck and having an opening a 'acent oneside of the neck, a cap havln a ody portion and provided with an annuiarflange screw threaded interiorly to fit the neck, the space within theflange constituting a recess, said body havin an opening extending fromthe outer surface of the top and communicating with the recess, a ribextending across sai recess adjacent the opening of the top, an elasticwasher held in the recess between the rib and the wall of the recess,said openings being movable into and out of registry by rotation of thecap and the washer being compressed over the first opening by the actionof said screw threads upon the openings being moved out of registry,said flange aving an arcuate notch therein at its lower edge, and a pinprojecting from the" neck into said notch to limit rotative movement ofthe cap.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RYUJI SATO.

